News

Kwara Gov restates support for judiciary as new legal year begins

Published

1 year ago

January 9, 2024

…CJ commends Gov’s strides in infrastructural devt, seeks more

Joel Ajayi

Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq (CON) on Tuesday pledged continuous support for the judicial arm of government, including in the area of infrastructural development and welfare.

The Governor said rehabilitation of courtrooms, among other efforts of the administration, will continue within budgetary limits in the new year.

“Our administration will continue to partner with the judiciary to sustain the rule of law, public order, and safety. Along with some other supports that ease the dispensation of justice, I assure you that infrastructural development in the justice sector, including rehabilitation of courtrooms that we have started, will continue within budgetary allowances in the new year,” AbdulRazaq said in a remark at a ceremony heralding the 2024 Legal Year of Kwara State.

“On this day and always, we value your partnership and the alliances that continue to sustain law and order as we mobilise resources for sustainable development and improved wellbeing of the people.”

AbdulRazaq commended the judiciary for remaining steadfast and resolute in the dispensation of justice, congratulating all branches of the State Judiciary on the commencement of another legal year 2023/2024 and saying the event means a lot to the legal community as it does for the rest of our society.

“Without prejudice to the fact that every system is a work in progress, your commitment has helped to strengthen public confidence in the court and reinforce the ideal of the courts as the last hope of the common man. This has profound consequences for law and order, and public safety,” AbdulRazaq added.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Ibrahim Sulayman, said the administration is committed at all times to the rule of law, which he said is fundamental to justice.

Chief Judge of Kwara State, Justice Abiodun Adebara, applauded AbdulRazaq for his investment in court infrastructure, welfare of judicial staff as well as strengthening of its manpower to achieve a smoother, quicker and more efficient administration of justice

Justice Adebara added: “Soon after his assumption of duty as Governor of Kwara State, he appointed five new High Court Judges in 2020. In the year 2023, he had equally given his approval for the appointment of six additional High Court Judges in the state. This represents the highest so far at a time in the state. The appointment exercise is ongoing before the National Judicial Council, and I believe that our judicial-friendly Governor will do all that is necessary for the complete actualization of this appointment.

“When this is done, for the first time in the history of the state, it will bring the number of High Court Judges in the state to an all-time high number of 24.

“Coming to the infrastructural development, during the year under review, His Excellency gave approval and released funds for the complete renovation and rehabilitation of the High Court building in Offa Judicial Division. Since the Court was built many years ago, this will be the first effort at renovating and rehabilitating the said Court.”

The Chief Judge announced that 26,533 cases were registered in all tiers of the Court in the state in the 2022/2023 legal year, and commended the bar and the bench for their commitment to improved Justice system.

“The grand total of the cases registered in all tiers of Court in the state in the 2022/2023 legal year just ended is 26,533 out of which 13,720 were decided, leaving 12,813 pending cases at the beginning of the current legal year. The total revenue generated from both criminal and civil cases in all the courts as well as Probate fees in Kwara State in the last legal year as fines and court fees amounted to N83,674,936.86,” the Chief Judge said.

The event was attended by members of the bar and the bench, including serving and retired Appeal Court Justices, retired chief judges, and serving and retired judges.

Speaking on behalf of the body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in the state, Chief Peter Olorunnisola appealed to members of the bar not to do anything that will damage the image or greatness of the judiciary.

In their separate remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association Ilorin Branch Kamaldeen Gambari and the Chairman of Offa NBA Prince Bashir Ijaiya stressed the need for upgrade of more offices and courtrooms of judges to dispense justice to all manner of people without fear or favour. They also appreciated Governor AbdulRazaq for renovating the High Court Building in Offa — the first renovation to be carried out since the construction of the building in the 1980s.

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Business

Ministry of Arts, Culture and Creative Economy Presents Budget Performance Report to National Assembly

Published

11 hours ago

June 19, 2025

The Gleamer

Joel Ajayi

The Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and Creative Economy has presented its budget performance report to the National Assembly, highlighting the ministry’s achievements, challenges, and future plans.

The report which was presented to the House Committee on Art, Culture and Creative Economy on Wednesday, detailed the ministry’s efforts to promote Nigeria’s cultural heritage, support the growth of the creative industry, and drive economic growth.

The ministry’s initiatives include developing a robust intellectual property policy, investing in infrastructure, and fostering collaboration with stakeholders.

The ministry’s budget performance presentation which highlighted its eight-point plan, initiatives such as Nigeria Destination 2030, skills development, policy frameworks, intellectual property protection, strategic partnerships, growth targets, digital transformation, and cultural heritage preservation was given a thumbs up by the House committee.

During the presentation, the minister, Barr Hannatu Musa Musawa highlighted the challenges faced by the ministry, including limited resources and infrastructure. Despite these challenges, she said that the ministry has made significant progress in promoting Nigerian culture and supporting the creative industry.

Musawa also emphasized the importance of collaboration and partnership in driving the growth of the creative industry.

“We cannot do this alone. We need to work together with stakeholders, including industry experts, international partners, and the National Assembly, to drive economic growth and job creation”.

The minister explained that the ministry’s initiatives are expected to have a significant impact on the creative industry, generating revenue, creating jobs, and promoting Nigerian culture globally. She stated that the ministry is also exploring ways to develop infrastructure, including a physical Bollywood-style destination, and creating a streaming platform to showcase Nigerian content.

“The ministry has also secured a grant from the French treasury to support infrastructure development, and is working to leverage international partnerships to drive growth in the creative industry” the minister said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry Dr Mukhtar Yawale Muhammed, MFR, mni. highlighted key achievements and budget performance in the sector as well as the ministry’s GDP contribution to the economy, tourism revenue accrued, and project implementation.

The Chairman, House Committee on Art, Culture and Creative Economy Hon. Gabriel Saleh Zok commended the ministry’s initiatives and expressed the Committee’s commitment to support the growth of the creative industry.

“We are here to access your budget performance and ensure effective utilization of funds appropriated. We expect to have a closer working relationship with the ministry”.

The interaction with the House Committee members provided insights into the Ministry’s efforts to drive economic growth and development through strategic initiatives and project implementation.

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